Once a small Hutsul settlement, Kosiv is now a bustling Ukrainian town on the banks of the Rybnytsya River. It was under Polish rule until 1772 when it became part of the Habsburg Empire and was taken by the Soviets in 1939 as part of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact.
Kosiv’s cultural attractions include the Museum of Folk Art and Life of the Hutsul Region, where ceramics, textiles and traditional costumes are on display. Set across two floors is the Museum of the Liberation Struggle, which details the tumultuous history of Kosiv and the Sich Riflemen of the Ukrainian People’s Army.
Sprawling west of Kosiv is Hutsulshchyna National Park, which encompasses rugged mountains, rushing rivers and beech forests. It’s traversed by scenic hiking trails and cycling routes and provides a home for brown bears, lynx and European otters. Birdwatchers can keep their eyes peeled for booted eagles, Ural owls and Eurasian three-toed woodpeckers.
Getting there
Kosiv is around a one-hour drive from Kolomyya and 1.5 hours from Chernivtsi. Ivano-Frankivsk International Airport is also 1.5 hours away and has regular flights to Kyiv. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to and around Kosiv.